I have Florida over Duke in the Championship, but I have no confidence in that pick at all now. Some might like a Cinderella finish, but for me, this is the perfect ending. These are the 4 best teams, congrats to the basketball committee!

 

All No. 1 seeds? All for it! Why this men's Final Four will be great - ESPN

WWW.ESPN.COM

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No low seeds? No problem. We get to watch four of the most efficient teams of all time match up -- and that's a good thing.

 

 

Thanks, 30. I have Duke vs. an SEC team 😛. 

 

A gutsy comeback win by Florida over Texas Tech but it took help from the Raiders gaging from the free-throw line. (BTW, under John Wooden's rules, Bruce Pearl would not be allowed anywhere near the bench.) 

 

OT, Tough, tough outing for the UCLA women last night. But this was Cori Close's first Final 4 and Geno's 101st. 

 

This is Kelvin Sampson's 3rd Final 4, two with Oklahoma, and the first for the other three coaches. Duke Coach Scheyer won a title with the Blue Devils in 2010.

 

Duke, with three teenagers, including Cooper Flagg, who all contribute, has the youngest roster. The other three teams do not start a teenager. Will the Duke youngsters with first-time Final 4 coach Scheyer hold up under the pressure the Houston D brings?

 

In 2024, Houston played in a far more difficult conference than Duke. But, and I know the game was in Indianapolis, Purdue, with fewer 'athletes' on the roster than Duke, came 'this close' to taking down the Cougars.

 

In honor of our friend Gat, Go Gators! 

 

Here's an interesting factoid. Three Final 4 coaches are members of the Tribe of Judah and one is a member of a Native American tribe.

 

Coaches Golden and Scheyer played professional basketball in Israel. 

 

 

 

Final Four shatters stereotypes: Three Jewish coaches take center stage in San Antonio - Saturday Down South

WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM

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Three of the 4 teams at this year's Final Four are led by Jewish coaches - Auburn's Bruce Pearl, Florida's Todd Golden and Duke's Jon Scheyer.

 

Bruce Pearl grew up in Boston, the Olde Towne where Red Auerbach of the Jewish faith won 16 NBA titles in his 29 years of coaching.

 

Four No. 1 Aces go at it today. Thanks again, 30, for leading the BBall way.

 

I still have residual "Hate" for Florida, from the 2007 elite 8 against OBD, but I picked them to win, so there's that. I've been a Duke fan since I heard they had a player named Spanarkel. Flagg is the best player left in the field, and his teammates are good. But I don't know if they're as good as the talent on the other teams.

 

Michigan was right there with Auburn last game, until Auburn went on a 22-0 run, and it was over. Houston has been consistent, didn't put Purdue away as easily as Duke has won its games. It's definitely because Oregon didn't have it, but Florida plays tough D, hit's the boards and shoots the 3, and makes them. Haugh has really stood out so far.

 

Unless you're Joe Namath, guarantees are worthless, but I can guarantee that both of these games will be close. 

Auburn 46 Florida 38. The upside for the Gators is they can play better; the downside is that Auburn might not, so unless the Gators can pick it up in every area. Charles Barkley is going to be very happy when this game's over. Auburn is definitely the more physical team so far; points in the paint, Auburn 26 Florida 14.

That's more like it. Florida, on a 9-0 run, ties it up at 49. 

Florida wins, 79-73 my bracket lives on!

Florida beats Southeastern Conference rival Auburn 79-73 in the Final Four to advance to the championship game

SPORTS.YAHOO.COM

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Florida beats Southeastern Conference rival Auburn 79-73 in the Final Four to advance to the championship game.

 

On 4/5/2025 at 12:44 PM, 30Duck said:

I still have residual "Hate" for Florida, from the 2007 elite 8 against OBD, but I picked them to win, so there's that. I've been a Duke fan since I heard they had a player named Spanarkel. Flagg is the best player left in the field, and his teammates are good. But I don't know if they're as good as the talent on the other teams.

 

Joakim Noah was hated by everyone during his time with Florida. Kentucky fans in general really disliked him and said some really nasty things regarding his appearance and family. The '05-'06 Gators started out unranked much like this years team, four about four years straight the Gators couldn't get out of the first weekend. But that '05-'06 team started 11-0 and didn't look back for two years.

 

I see similarities to this year's squad, the main difference is Golden built this squad through the portal. Clayton, Richard and Condon were all guys that started their careers elsewhere. I can't see them letting Duke get up early and come back, which has been the Gators run this far. Duke has too much depth and scoring. If it is Duke on Monday, the Gators better be the ones jumping out early, much like they did in the SEC tournament.

 

Duke has the best player, but Florida has the length and depth to make him take tough shots all night. You can't stop him, you just have to make him work on the defensive side to wear him out.

On 4/5/2025 at 5:58 PM, GatOrlando said:

the main difference is Golden built this squad through the portal. Clayton, Richard and Condon were all guys that started their careers elsewhere.

Don't forget, Rueben Chinyelu, from Washington State. 

 

On 4/5/2025 at 5:58 PM, GatOrlando said:

I can't see them letting Duke get up early and come back, which has been the Gators run this far.

Definitely agree with this.

 

On 4/5/2025 at 5:58 PM, GatOrlando said:

Duke has the best player, but Florida has the length and depth to make him take tough shots all night. You can't stop him, you just have to make him work on the defensive side to wear him out.

Another agreement. Flagg is the most dominant player Duke has had. He needs to have a top game for them to win, and so far, he's been able to do that. 

On 4/5/2025 at 9:26 AM, Jon Joseph said:

 

Thanks, 30. I have Duke vs. an SEC team 😛. 

 

A gutsy comeback win by Florida over Texas Tech but it took help from the Raiders gaging from the free-throw line. (BTW, under John Wooden's rules, Bruce Pearl would not be allowed anywhere near the bench.) 

 

OT, Tough, tough outing for the UCLA women last night. But this was Cori Close's first Final 4 and Geno's 101st. 

 

This is Kelvin Sampson's 3rd Final 4, two with Oklahoma, and the first for the other three coaches. Duke Coach Scheyer won a title with the Blue Devils in 2010.

 

Duke, with three teenagers, including Cooper Flagg, who all contribute, has the youngest roster. The other three teams do not start a teenager. Will the Duke youngsters with first-time Final 4 coach Scheyer hold up under the pressure the Houston D brings?

 

In 2024, Houston played in a far more difficult conference than Duke. But, and I know the game was in Indianapolis, Purdue, with fewer 'athletes' on the roster than Duke, came 'this close' to taking down the Cougars.

 

In honor of our friend Gat, Go Gators! 

Thanks Jon!!

 

One more to go, but the last one is going to be the toughest one. Houston is a nightmare on the defensive side, they just don't give you space or second chance options. Florida averages around thirteen offensive rebounds a game which allows them to hit quick uncontested threes. Houston won't allow that.

 

Duke is just an offensive juggernaut with their big guards and depth. Flagg won't be stopped, the scariest part is he's great defensively as well. There isn't a weakness I can see, which is why they were my pick. Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

 

Whoever wins will be the best. Florida has been overlooked most of the year, they'll have a chance to prove that point on Monday. I am surprised that they made this run, but there is no such thing as being happy to be there. You never know if you'll ever get back to this point. You gotta make it count.

 

As 30Duck said about still hating Florida for that '07 elite 8 loss. That was a super good Oregon team that could've won you a second title. But it just didn't go that way, the margin of a miss to a championship is super thin. I feel that way about the '14 Gator team that lost to UCONN.

Duke 34-Houston 28. Houston's D has Duke shooting 41% from the field, unfortunately, Houston is shooting 31%. 

Both teams have gotten into a groove. Enjoyable second half, I worry about Houston's depth though.

Crazy picture:

 

The commentators noted that Duke doesn't have much experience in close games. 

Looked like Flagg was being fouled by 2 players on the free throw rebound, and he got called for a foul. Houston hits both ends of a 1 & 1, takes the lead. Houston on a 7-0 run the last 15 seconds. 

Flagg misses go ahead shot; Houston gets the rebound. 

Duke COLLAPSES!!!!!

Well I guess Houston stopped Flagg. Color me shocked. Congrats to Houston.

I told my best Duck buddy that if Houston was at their defensive best, they would beat the Dukies. Now for a big admission and something I haven't dome since snapping off my TV with a tired Boise State seemingly out of gas and missing their miracle at the Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma: I turned away from the late game tonight with less than 30 seconds remaining and missed the Houston triumph which I didn't know about until I read this thread. Color me embarrassed!

 

Like 30Duck, I had picked the Gators to win it all over Duke. I have a feeling that Monday's game against Houston is gonna be a war.

:

Inside Houston's shocking last-minute comeback: Clutch free throws, a Duke collapse, and a crucial stop

WWW.SPORTINGNEWS.COM

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Houston was eliminated from the 2024 NCAA Tournament by Duke after missing nearly half their foul shots. The Cougars and...

 

Men's Final Four takeaways: Houston stuns Duke with improbable comeback

WWW.YARDBARKER.COM

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Here are some takeaways from Houston's stunning win over Duke.

 

 

After letting the players mug one another up and down the court, I didn't like the late foul call on Flagg preparing to rebound a missed free throw. 

 

Hats off to Houston for hanging in and not quitting. But for me, a huge UNLV fan when I worked in Las Vegas, the game has become more like sumo wrestling. Foul calls are based on whimsy. The play near the basket looks like a rugby scrum.

 

(Watch out for waving cane. 😁)

 

Thanks, 30, for all of the great CBB Tourney posts. 

 

Bill Rafferty did not like the call. Bill's seen a lot of ball.

 

 

Did Cooper Flagg foul? Controversial call contributes to Duke collapse vs Houston

WWW.USATODAY.COM

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A controversial foul call on Cooper Flagg allowed Houston to get the go-ahead free throws in a Final Four loss to the Cougars

 

 

Depression in Durham.

 

 

Duke faces fallout of epic meltdown in 'heartbreaking' Final Four loss to Houston

WWW.USATODAY.COM

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Duke looked all set to play for the national title in the NCAA men's tournament before an epic meltdown against Houston caused a heartbreaking loss.

 

I want the Gators to win it all for Gat. Houston to win it all for college roommates Jim Nance and Freddy Couples.

 

 

Florida's Clayton is in Rare Air with Larry Bird.

 

 

Walter Clayton Jr. continues to carry Florida. A title will make him a Gators legend.

WWW.USATODAY.COM

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With 34 points vs. Auburn and 30 points in Elite Eight, Walter Clayton is the first to hit that mark in those rounds since Larry Bird did it in 1979.

 

 

On 4/6/2025 at 8:36 AM, Jon Joseph said:

Bill Rafferty did not like the call. Bill's seen a lot of ball.

 

I agree with Bill! Absolutely a "Play on" call. Yes, Flagg missed the shot at the end of the game, and credit Houston completely for the win. But that was an awful call. 

 

Not Tournament Related but How About Some BBall Love for Payton Pritchard + The Olde Towne Team!

 

 

Celtics' historic shooting fuels a record-breaking season

WWW.YARDBARKER.COM

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The Boston Celtics made history on Friday night, breaking the NBA record for the most three-pointers made in a single season.

 

 

 

Gators -1.5.

 

 

Houston vs. Florida odds: Current line, how to watch National Championship - On3

WWW.ON3.COM

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The odds have been released for Houston vs. Florida in the NCAA Tournament national championship game, concluding March Madness.